January 7, 2008

Priority for sick NS trainees

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Trainees must be attended to even if they are only down with a fever or headache, National Service Training Council chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said.
He said if the trainees did not recover from their sickness within 24 hours, they should be referred to the nearest hospital or clinic as soon as possible.
“This is to ensure that the programme’s delivery system is functioning well without creating undue problems to the trainees.
“We want the programme to be executed efficiently and effectively with quality service. As such, we hope every camp personnel should be able to carry out his or her duties well.
“An effective management and adequate medical facilities to cater to the needs of the trainees are among the issues which must be given serious attention.”
He said the National Service Training Department had taken measures to improve medical services at the NS camps, including the recent introduction of self-health tagging system for unhealthy trainees or those suffering from non-chronic illnesses to exempt them from strenuous physical activities.
Lee also said the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the NS security consultant, had introduced a security audit system on physical training at all NS camps.
He said on top of this, all NS personnel and trainees were covered by insurance starting three days before the programme and ending three days after that.